It’s blast off Britain as ban on space flight ends

BRITAIN is finally  and officially  to put men and women into space. A government policy against sending Britons into orbit is to be reversed after almost a quarter of a century.

Until now, British-born astronauts have had to “hitch” rides on American or Russian space missions.

However, Lord Drayson, the science minister, has confirmed that the decision not to fund human space-flight training programmes, made by Margaret Thatcher in 1986, is to be rescinded.

British scientists, pilots, engineers and other suitable candidates can now apply to the European Space Agency (ESA) to become a trainee in its Astronaut Corps  and will get government backing if selected.

Drayson said: “Britain should be playing a full role in space exploration. There was a special…

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